Brainstem auditory-evoked responses in full-term newborn infants with temporary low Apgar score

Abstract

ConclusionsNo abnormalities, with the exception of maturational changes, in BAER were found during the neonatal period. The results suggest that a temporary low Apgar score is not accompanied by any significant auditory impairment.ObjectiveTo examine brainstem auditory function in newborn infants with a temporary low Apgar score but no clinical signs of hypoxic–ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).Material and methodsThe subjects were 36 full-term infants with Apgar scores of ≤7 at 1 and/or 5 min and ≥8 at 10 min but without HIE. The brainstem auditory-evoked response (BAER) was serially recorded at click rates of 21, 51 and 91/s on Days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 30 after birth.ResultsOn Day 1 and Days 3–5, the latencies of waves I, III and V tended to increase slightly at all click rates but did not differ significantly from normal control values. Thereafter, all latencies tended to decrease, reaching control values on Day 30. The I–V interval was similar to the control values at all click rates during the first 5 days, tended to decrease from Day 7 and did not differ from the control values on Day 30. There were no significant changes in BAER wave amplitudes at any of the click rates on any day.